The Dillon tribune., 1887-11-18
The Allon !Gribunt.
ABOUT SHODDY SHOES.
COLES THAT LAST A WEEK, AND
WILL NOT BEAR WETTiNG.

Coming Home Observation-Disclosures
ture of Sl,otldy Goods.
In the manufacture of boots and shoes
for men, women and children. some Of the
lrossest impositions and deceptions are
carried on. \ well informed mechanic
said to reporter the other dry:
ut is an outrage that manufacturers OF
boots and shoes should be permitted to
throw such trash as they do upon the
market. Why, just look ut my shoes, and
are almost ON the ground. might he
said to be walking on my uppcrs.
whats the trouble:" was asked.
''Troublc! why, there $ trouble enough;
and am only one out of thirty or forty
thousand persons In this city who have
been victimizel by the manufacturers and
retailers of these shOddy shoes. When l
first put ON the shoes l an now wearing
they looked as well as any to be seen in
the Broadway or Fifth avenue stores; but
with the first rainstorm the solcs began to
peel off, and upon examination | found
that the bottoms of my shoes were made
up of paper and scraps Of leather. which
at first had the appearance OF leather.
went to the store where had purchased
them, but the boss gave me no satisfac-
faction. He said he didn't make them;
told me ! had bought them cheap, and
somewhat i,Is0lently wanted to know what
expected to get for ST.; told him in
plain wouis that expected to get Il good
shoe for that money. | showed him the
paper soles in my shoes, but that's all the
good it did me- accused him of being
swindler, pointed to the numerous boxes
Of shoes about the store from whicl, had
seen him take the same as mine. but he
took the matter SO cGolly that made up
my mind he was used to it,. He hau Il
well appointed store. and prOfcssed to keep
good stock. which. on account of Il big
trade, he could afford to sell compara-
lively cheap. At the time there was
number OF web dressed women id the
store, ami when they saw the paper soled
shoes held up, and heard what l had to
say about the goods on hand, they gath
cred up their skirts and walked out; but
the proprietor didn't seem to mind it, as
he knew that his low priced shoes that
were labeled in the windows would draw
in plenty Of custom. tell you. sir, I'm
hard working man, and have large
family to care for, but it's money. money
all the time to buy shoes for my children.
I'm mechanic, and | know how good
work ought to stand"
Another workman with whom the re-
porter converscd related pretty much the
same experience in regard to shoes that
he had bought for his boys, and incident
ally mentioned recent experience of his
wife. She had on a pair Of low cut shoes,
and, CHANGING to get caught in u heavy
ra1nstorm. came home almost barcfooted
The water had soaked through the paste
n Inn Ap,1 I'M ~ u,l.
emily of leather, had nearly peeled off
The inside sole was only paper. This
mans experience was that these shoes
would wear off SO gradually in very dry
weather that " good many cOllltln notice
it; but let them be worn out once or twice
in rainstorm, and then the wearer
would wonder what made the soles peel
of. He said that he had to buy us cl,eaply
as possible, and no matter in what store
on the BOwery or about the avenues he
traded, the proprietor or his clerk was
always willing to take an oath that the
shoes were regularly sewcd. 'I tell you
what, sir he said, bluntly, ''these are
the da's for trying mems soles,'' and the
speake' laughed at the old joke.
SIEVE. i Reputable shoemakers denounced
the inn 'sitions that We're practiced in the
manufacture Of shotldy shoes, us it was
very severe upon men who have to work
hard for their money, and only get small
wages ut the hest. One of these shoe
makers said:
"Most Of the cheap goods sold in New
York and elsewhere are made in Massa-
chusettes. mostly by machinery. and the
manufacturers use the offal of leather
splits, skivcrs. paper or u composition
leather, or split horsehide. In many mems.
women's and children's shoes the inside is
Of pastehoarl, and the lining is coarse.
enough to sift pears through: and then the
shoe is polished and heel ballel. Only
experts can tell the difference between
this sor: of shotltly shoes and hand made
work, 50 handsomely are they finished.
From the top to the bottom of the shoe
the whole thing is deceptive. The manu-
acturers of >hMldy shoes are constantly
competing with each other, and every one
daily studies how he can turn ont the
cheapest and best looking goods. Thess
Ihoddy shoes are sent all over the United
states, and persons whose means are
crampcd arc taken in by them. Tue bar
gains they think they arc getting are the
worst sort cf sells
Several other custom work Shuemukers
III speaking of the subject. said ,la, in ali
these machine made shoes the chcapest
material was used in mems. wO,len's and
chil'lren's shoes; horsehide being split and
dressed up to represent calf. and poorly
tanned shcrpskins being made ,:p in imi-
tation OF pebble goat.
From the various manufactures down
east these shotldy goods are shipped to
Wholesale houses. whence they find their
way To retailers about town. by whom
they are sold mostly to the poorer people
who think they are getting bargains. 1t
is vario,sly estimated that from SS. 900 to
Slo.WW Il day would not cover :,.e guam
tlty oi this sort of trash THAI is sold in
this city alone. and il is too bad that the
loss should fall upon those who can
III AFFORD 1t. There are scores of shop